Permits are not required for cattle entering Virginia unless the cattle are originating from an area that is considered positive for tuberculosis or brucellosis by the USDA. If you are planning to ship cattle to Virginia from a tuberculosis or brucellosis positive area additional testing requirements apply and a permit is required; please contact the Office of Veterinary Services at 804.786.2483. The following requirements only apply to cattle that originate in tuberculosis and brucellosis negative areas.

Cattle entering Virginia for temporary exhibition purposes(means display at a scheduled event such as a 4-H show, not to include rodeos and similar events where cattle, goats, sheep, and other ruminants are congregated for entertainment purposes):
Cattle entering Virginia for exhibition purposes for 10 days or less require official identification and a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (CVI) issued by a licensed and accredited veterinarian in the state of origin 30 days or less before entry. Official identification includes 840 series RFID tags, 900 series RFID tags, American ID tags, USDA silver metal tags & USDA orange metal brucellosis tags (NUES). Breed registration brands and tattoos are NOT accepted forms of official identification. Official ID must be noted on the CVI. Please contact the Office of Veterinary Services at 804.786.2483 if you have questions about other identification systems. No tuberculosis testing is required.

Cattle entering Virginia for slaughter purposes:
All slaughter cattle must be officially identified. Official identification for slaughter cattle can be a USDA back tag, 840 series RFID tags, 900 series RFID tags, USDA silver metal tags & USDA orange metal brucellosis tags (NUES). Breed registration brands and tattoos and American ID are NOT accepted forms of official identification. Official ID must be noted on the waybill. If multiple cattle of similar breed, age and sex are listed on the certificate of veterinary inspection, sequential identification numbers may be summarized. A CVI or tuberculosis testing is not required for cattle consigned directly to a VDACS or USDA inspected slaughter facility.

Cattle entering Virginia for sale at a livestock market:
Cattle entering Virginia for sale at an approved livestock market may be exempt from CVI, testing, and identification requirements provided that the market applies identification and maintains certain records. Please contact the market you plan to consign the cattle to in order to find out if these exemptions apply. If not, follow the requirements listed below as appropriate.

All other cattle 18 months of age or older:
All cattle 18 months of age or older must be officially identified and require a negative tuberculosis test 60 days or less before entry (unless exempted below) and a certificate of veterinary inspection (CVI) issued 30 days or less before entry from a licensed and accredited veterinarian in the state of origin. Official identification includes 840 series RFID tags, 900 series RFID tags, American ID tags, USDA silver metal tags & USDA orange metal brucellosis tags (NUES). Breed registration brands and tattoos are NOT accepted forms of official identification. Official ID must be noted on the CVI. If multiple cattle of similar breed, age and sex are listed on the certificate of veterinary inspection, sequential identification numbers may be summarized. Please contact the Office of Veterinary Services at (804)786-2483 if you have questions about other identification systems.
Cattle are exempt from the tuberculosis testing requirements if they are consigned directly from an accredited tuberculosis-free herd. The accreditation number and date of the last herd test must be listed on the CVI.

All other cattle less than 18 months of age:
All cattle less than 18 months of age must be officially identified (unless exempted below) and require a certificate of veterinary inspection (CVI) issued 30 days or less before entry from a licensed and accredited veterinarian in the state of origin. Official identification includes 840 series RFID tags, 900 series RFID tags, American ID tags, USDA silver metal tags & USDA orange metal brucellosis tags (NUES). Breed registration brands and tattoos are NOT accepted forms of official identification. Official ID must be noted on the CVI. If multiple cattle of similar breed, age and sex are listed on the certificate of veterinary inspection, sequential identification numbers may be summarized. Please contact the Office of Veterinary Services at (804)786-2483 if you have questions about other identification systems.

Cattle less than 18 months of age are exempted from the official identification requirement if they are entering Virginia for feeding purposes only, and are not of a dairy type. Dairy type animals are those primarily of a dairy or dual-purpose breed, regardless of their intended purpose.